French radio station could be due an encore – The Argus

Cult French radio station FIP is on the verge of a return to the Brighton and Hove airwaves.

The Paris-based station attracted a massive audience in the city after a mystery fan, said to live in Hanover, grew so smitten with the quirky station he set up his own antennae to rebroadcast it to the city.

However, earlier this year, Ofcom, the communications watchdog, raided the mystery broadcaster’s home and confiscated the equipment after a complaint he was breaking broadcasting regulations.

advertisementSources claim the man behind the operation is considering applying for a community licence, which would grant permission to legitimately broadcast FIP.

It follows a successful Vive La FIP fund-raising night for fans of the radio station, which attracted hundreds of people with offers of support.

Organiser Dave Mounfield said: “There is talk of applying for a community licence.

“With this level of support anything is possible.

“People of all ages and background were arriving all day to pledge their support, from as far afield as Eastbourne and Lewes.”

As part of that support, tongue-in-cheek posters have now been created and put up around the city saying: “I haven’t heard from FIP for several weeks – do you know where it has gone?”

Badges have also been produced demanding the return of the radio station in the city.

Further Vive La FIP nights are planned for Thursday, May 31, and Thursday, June 28, at the Hope pub in Queen’s Road, Brighton.